South Derbyshire

South Derbyshire's population expanded between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, housing tenure and health.

The population reached nearly 95,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of South Derbyshire increased by 16%, from just under 81,600 to 94,600.

The addition of about 13,000 people means this area's population was the second-fastest-growing in the East Midlands and increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, South Derbyshire was home to, on average, 2 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older South Derbyshire

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of South Derbyshire increased by two years, from 38 to 40 years.

This rural area had a slightly higher average age than the East Midlands and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 3,800 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 700.

About 16% of people in South Derbyshire are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and South Derbyshire by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in South Derbyshire

South Derbyshire saw the East Midlands' second-largest fall in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just over 1 in 14 (7.3%) in South Derbyshire reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 8.0% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.2% to 3.8%.

Across the region, only Derby saw a greater fall in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability (from 7.3% to 6.3%).

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in South Derbyshire

The number of people in South Derbyshire that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 11,000 in 2001 to about 25,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 13% to 27% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the East Midlands (from 16% to 27%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in South Derbyshire that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 64,000 in 2001 to just under 61,000 in 2011 (from 78% to 64%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 5,300 to just over 6,200. Both of these figures represented about 6.6% of the total population at the time of the 2001 and 2011 censuses.

About 1,400 people (1.3%) said they were Sikh, up from just over 1,000 in 2001 (1.5%).

The population without a religion in South Derbyshire increased by 14 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and South Derbyshire by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in South Derbyshire that rented privately increased from 6.5% to 13% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 1 in 10 (9.9%) households lived in social housing, compared with 12% in 2001. The percentage of South Derbyshire households that owned their home decreased from 79% to 75%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 8.5% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in South Derbyshire increased by 6.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in South Derbyshire, the East Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of South Derbyshire residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.6% to 4.9% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (82%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69% in 2001. The percentage of South Derbyshire residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 13%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 9.4% in 2001 to 5.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in South Derbyshire decreased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in South Derbyshire, the East Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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